Arrienne´s POVMama and I are now preparing for Noche Buena. It's Christmas later, and we're celebrating it here at my parents' house. We won't be spending it with Jace's mom because she has something important to take care of in the States.Jace isn't here yet because he had to go to the office. You know, workaholic. But he already said he's on his way.Since I stopped working, I've been spending more time here at Mama's house. It's boring at home—I don't have much to do except clean and cook. At least when I'm here, I get to bond with Mama.On December 15, my birthday, he prepared so many surprises for me. I swear, I'm so lucky to have him as my husband. First, he took me to Hong Kong Disneyland. That was on a Thursday. He didn’t go to work on Thursday and Friday.We had so much fun there. Since it was our first time visiting, we were like kids, overwhelmed with excitement.We stayed for two days, and when we got back to the Philippines, we went straight to the townhouse he gifted m
Arrienne´s POVIt's January 1. Right now, I’m on my way to Joy’s house. I mean, Joy’s mansion. Every year, we celebrate New Year’s there. It’s kind of like a tradition for us at this point. Tradition? Wow, that sounds so serious! I’m riding a taxi since my super loving husband, Jace, couldn’t come with me. As usual, work again. Imagine, it’s a holiday!! But apparently, there was an issue at his business in Makati. He said he’d follow later, so I didn’t bring my car. I actually wanted to take a jeepney, but he wouldn’t let me. He insisted I take a taxi instead. So overprotective! Last night, it was just the two of us welcoming the New Year at home. We were supposed to go to my parents’ house again, but they went on vacation in Paris. They called it their honeymoon. =_= And they didn’t want to bring us. As if we’d ruin it for them. We had a movie marathon while waiting for midnight. I had already cooked earlier in the day, so all I had to do was heat it up at midnight. And gue
Arrienne´s POVIt was three in the afternoon when Jace arrived at Joy’s mansion. And just like always, he started joking around and taking over the conversation. Even Big Bro Patrick was so entertained by him. He even said that I was so lucky to have Jace.There was no question about that because I truly was lucky. If only his father were still alive, I would have thanked him endlessly for insisting that Jace and I get married.Two hours later, we all went home."Is the problem at work solved?" I asked Jace after a while."Yep! Of course, it’s me we’re talking about!" he said, laughing.Ugh, it was fine until his bragging mode kicked in. I remembered what happened earlier. If I really am pregnant, Jace would surely jump for joy. I can’t wait to tell him. Should I just say it now? No, what if it’s a false alarm?I looked at him. He had this constant smile on his face while driving. His smile was so beautiful. I would never get tired of looking at him."Why are you staring at me like th
I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face as I drove to Jace’s office. The OB’s words kept echoing in my head over and over again.Congratulations, Mrs. Garcia… you’re four weeks pregnant.Congratulations, Mrs. Garcia… you’re four weeks pregnant.Congratulations, Mrs. Garcia… you’re four weeks pregnant.Jace is going to be so happy. What will his reaction be? I can't wait to tell him.In just a few more minutes, I’ll be at his office. Just a little longer, and I’ll make you the happiest man, Jace.I glanced at the rearview mirror. That pickup truck behind me… It’s been following me for a while now. I’ve been seeing it since I left the house. Weird. But maybe it’s just a coincidence. Or maybe it’s a different pickup truck that just looks the same. There are plenty of red pickup trucks in the Philippines, after all.It was already two in the afternoon when I arrived."Wow, Ma'am Arrienne, you're glowing today!" one of the employees—probably from HR—told me."Thanks!"Glowing? Haha, of cours
He's My LifeI immediately rushed to St. Luke's after receiving the call. I also called Mama and Papa so I wouldn't be alone.I was extremely nervous as I entered St. Luke's. I went straight to the information desk to find out where my husband was.They directed me to the operating room. The nurse said that Jace was in critical condition. And Mommy… she was dead on arrival. I couldn’t stop the tears streaming down my face. Mommy was gone. Please, God, let Jace survive.An hour passed before Mama and Papa arrived. They had just returned from Paris earlier today. But this was what greeted them."Ma..." I sobbed as I hugged Mama.She held me tightly, and Papa joined in the embrace as well."Jace will survive, my child. Just have faith," Mama said."That’s right, sweetheart. Jace is strong—he will get through this," Papa added."I hope so, Ma, Pa… I need him, and… and so does our baby," I couldn’t hold back my sobs as I said it."Oh!" My parents were clearly shocked by my words."Oh my Go
Arrienne´s POVI placed the flowers down and lit a candle in front of the two graves before me. It has been three years since the accident, yet the wounds in our hearts still feel fresh. I have forgiven Jean for what she did. After all, she is no longer in this world, and holding on to hatred would be pointless. We later found out that her parents had planned to take her to a mental hospital, having noticed her deteriorating sanity. They never expected things to turn out the way they did. They believed Jean could still recover. Although we had no fault in her losing her mind, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt. I knew exactly why she ended up that way. It was because of her love for Jace—the love she gave to my husband that he could never return. That guilt fades, however, when I remember how Jace died right before my eyes. How I nearly lost my own sanity as I listened to the sound signaling that his life had slipped away. "Mommy!!" I snapped out of my thoughts when li
Jace’s face lit up with pure joy as he processed what Arrienne had just said.“You’re pregnant?” he asked, eyes wide, his hands gently cupping her face.She nodded, a soft smile playing on her lips. “Yes, Mr. Garcia, you’re going to be a father again.”Jace let out a deep laugh and lifted her off the ground, spinning her around. “This is the best news ever!”Janna, hearing her parents’ excitement, ran over. “What’s happening? Why is Daddy spinning Mommy?”Jace bent down to his daughter’s level. “Guess what, princess? You’re going to be a big sister soon!”Janna gasped, her tiny hands covering her mouth before she let out an excited squeal. “Really?! A baby? In Mommy’s tummy?”Arrienne laughed, nodding. “Yes, baby.”Janna clapped her hands excitedly. “Yay! I want a baby brother!”Jace chuckled, pulling both his wife and daughter into a warm embrace. “I love you both so much,” he whispered.For a moment, everything felt perfect. Their love was strong, their family was growing, and their
Jace clenched his phone in his hand, his knuckles turning white. The voice on the other end was a warning—no, a declaration of war.Arrienne watched him, her heart pounding. “Jace… what do we do now?”Jace inhaled deeply, his CEO instincts kicking in. “We don’t panic. We fight.”He turned on his heel and strode toward his study, his mind racing. The lawsuit wasn’t just an attack on his company—it was a calculated move to ruin everything he had built.Arrienne followed him inside. “You said this was a setup. But why now? Why is Cassandra’s family suddenly coming after you?”Jace rubbed his temples. “Because of a recent merger we finalized. We acquired Montenegro Tech, their family’s struggling company. They lost their biggest asset, and now they want revenge.”Arrienne’s stomach twisted. “So this is about money?”Jace shook his head. “It’s about power. They don’t just want me to pay. They want to destroy my reputation, my company, and my name.” He sat at his desk, pulling out his lapto
Jace’s POVMy world tilted.Standing in the dim light, the figure emerged—confident, composed, but with a sharp glint of danger in his eyes."Nathan," I whispered. Disbelief sliced through me.Nathan. My oldest friend. My most trusted ally. The man I would’ve staked my life on."Surprised?" he asked smoothly, stepping closer. His smile was cold. Calculated. "You shouldn’t be."I couldn’t speak. Couldn’t think.Why?How?Arrienne’s POVShock held me still, the air heavy with betrayal. Nathan?But... he was family. Jace’s most loyal friend."Why?" I managed to croak out. My hand pressed protectively to my stomach. "Why would you do this?"Nathan’s eyes flicked to me, emotionless. "Because loyalty means nothing when you're always second place."May’s POVI stared, my heart hammering. Him?Nathan had promised me power. Promised me revenge.But this wasn’t the plan."You said Jace would suffer, but not like this," I hissed.He smiled darkly. "Plans change, May."I realized it then. I wasn’
Karen’s POVThe weight of the flash drive in my pocket felt heavier with every step I took. Evidence. Proof. The one thing that could save Jace—or destroy him completely.I hesitated outside Jace’s office. Was I ready for this? Ready to rip open the lie May had crafted so flawlessly?But the answer was already clear.I had to tell him.I knocked once and stepped inside. Jace looked up, his face shadowed with exhaustion and suspicion."What is it, Karen?" His tone was sharp, guarded.I swallowed hard and placed the flash drive on his desk."You need to see this."He stared at it, then back at me. "What is it?""Proof," I said quietly. "That the person betraying you isn’t Arrienne."He hesitated, doubt flickering across his face. But then he inserted the drive and watched as the footage played.May. Entering his office. Accessing files. Transferring data.The color drained from his face."No," he whispered. "It can’t be."But it was.And the truth shattered something in both of us.Jace
Arrienne’s POVMy hands trembled as I gripped the damning papers Jace had thrown on the table. My name, clear as day, linked to transfers I knew nothing about."This isn't me," I said, my voice sharp, almost panicked. "Jace, you have to believe me."But his face was stone. Silent. Unreadable.I stepped closer, searching his eyes. "You know me. You know I would never—"He stepped back. Just an inch, but enough to cut me deeper than words."I thought I knew," he said quietly.And with those four words, my world crumbled.Jace’s POVI wanted to believe her. God, I wanted to believe her.But the evidence was right there, cold and undeniable.What if the woman I loved was hiding secrets darker than I ever imagined?Marcus walked in, his face grim. "We’ve traced the account that received the funds. Offshore. Hard to track. But..."I didn’t want to hear it."Just say it," I ordered."The account is linked to someone... close." He hesitated, then met my gaze. "It’s in May’s name."The ground
Jace’s POVThe note in Arrienne’s trembling hand burned into my mind."You're looking in the wrong place."The implications were deadly. Someone was already inside—someone we trusted.I tightened my grip on her arm, my mind racing. "We need to check the security system. Every camera feed. Every access log."Arrienne nodded, though her face remained pale. "And Janna… we need to check on her first."Fear pierced my chest. I cursed myself for not thinking of it sooner.We ran.Arrienne’s POVI pushed open the nursery door, my heart pounding so hard it hurt.Janna lay fast asleep, her tiny chest rising and falling with steady breaths. Her innocence, her safety—it was all I cared about.I pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, whispering a prayer. But my relief was short-lived.Because when I turned around, I noticed something strange.The window. Slightly ajar.Jace’s eyes darkened as he reached for it, inspecting the latch. "Someone was here."I swallowed back a cry. They’d been this close
Arrienne's POVThe hospital room was quiet, save for the soft beeping of the heart monitor. I sat by May's bedside, holding her hand gently, as if my touch alone could keep her tethered to this world.The bullet had torn through her side, and though the doctors said she was stable, I could still see the shadow of pain etched across her face."You're safe now," I whispered, brushing stray hair from her forehead. "It's over."But was it?The ghost of Marcus's betrayal still lingered. I could feel it pressing against my chest, threatening to suffocate me.How did we miss it? How did we trust him for so long, only to be stabbed in the back?And worse... what if we weren't done yet?Jace's POVI stood outside May's room, my fists clenched at my sides. The anger still burned, even though Marcus was in custody.Betrayal.It wasn't just a word. It was a wound, deep and raw.I thought I’d seen it all in business—greed, competition, ambition. But I never imagined betrayal would come from the ma
Arrienne’s POVThe dim light from the single bulb above flickered, casting shadows across the cold concrete floor. My wrists ached, bound tightly behind me. The ropes cut into my skin, but the real pain wasn’t physical.It was betrayal.Karen stood in front of me, arms crossed, her smile sharp and venomous."I always wondered," she said, circling me slowly, "what it would feel like to be the woman who takes everything from you."I struggled against the ropes. "Why? Why are you doing this?"Her laugh was low and bitter. "Because you took what should've been mine. Jace. His trust. His respect. You walked into his life and took it all, while I stood by, invisible.""You were his friend," I said, my voice shaking. "You were supposed to be mine."Karen’s gaze darkened. "I was nothing to him. Nothing to any of you. Just the assistant. The helper. The shadow. But now..." Her smile widened. "Now I'm the one pulling the strings."Jace’s POVThe warehouse loomed ahead, an empty, hollow structur
Arrienne’s POVThe drive felt heavier than it should. Like it wasn’t just a piece of metal but a grenade, waiting to explode.Jace inserted it into his laptop, and the screen flickered to life. Files popped up—dozens of them. Some labeled innocently, others… not so much.One folder stood out: "Project Eclipse."I frowned. "What is that?"Jace didn’t answer. He just clicked it open.And what we saw made my heart stop.There were emails—hundreds of them. Messages between May and someone else. Anonymous. Cold. Ruthless.But one message chilled me to the bone."Phase two is ready. Once Marcus is taken down, Jace will be next."I covered my mouth, feeling sick."She… she was never working alone," I whispered.Jace’s jaw clenched, his hands curling into fists. "We’ve been playing checkers while they’ve been playing chess."And we were already losing.Marcus’s POVThe silence in my car felt suffocating. I drove with no destination, my mind spiraling.I couldn’t trust anyone.Not after what J
Marcus’s POVI wasn’t just standing guard anymore. I was hunting.May’s betrayal ran deeper than we thought—deeper than Jace or Arrienne even realized. But I wasn’t going to tell them yet. Not until I was sure.Because betrayal wasn’t just a wound. It was a cancer. And it had already spread into places we hadn’t seen.I pulled up the encrypted file I’d intercepted from May’s phone—an untraceable message sent to an unknown contact just days before her arrest. The message was simple. But deadly."It’s done. Phase two begins."Phase two?What the hell was May still planning from behind bars?I had one shot to figure it out. And if I failed…Jace wouldn’t just lose his company.He’d lose everything.Arrienne’s POVI sat in the office, staring at the encrypted file May had left behind. It was hidden beneath layers of security, like she knew someone would find it—but only when it was too late.My hand hovered over the keyboard, torn between wanting to know the truth and fearing it.Because
Jace’s POVThe room felt colder. The walls tighter. Every breath I took was laced with doubt and rage.May’s eyes were sharp, but she didn’t step back."You’re hiding something," I said, my voice low and dangerous. "Aren’t you, May?"Her lips curled slightly, but the innocence was gone."What are you saying, Jace?" she asked softly. Sweetly. Too sweet.I clenched my fists. "I think you know."The door slammed open.Marcus stormed in, his face set and determined. In his hand was a flash drive."I have the proof," he said, his voice like steel.For a moment, the world stopped.May’s eyes flicked to the drive, and I saw it.Fear.Real fear.Arrienne’s POVHope.It was faint, but it pulsed through me like fire.Jace turned, his face pale but composed. He took the drive from Marcus, his fingers trembling.He connected it to his phone.Tension crackled in the air like electricity.And then—Footage.May.Forging signatures. Altering emails. Slipping fake evidence into Karen’s files.Betraya